INTERNSHIP & PROPER PLACEMENT: UGONSA ENGAGES BAYELSA STATE HMB

The Chief Medical Director,

Bayelsa State Hospital Management Board,

Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

Attention:

The Director of Nursing Services,

Hospital Management Board, Yenagoa,

Bayelsa State.

             &

The Director of Nursing Services,

Ministry of Health, Yenagoa,

Bayelsa State.

Sir/Madam,

NON-IMPLEMENTATION OF PROPER PLACEMENT OF GRADUATE NURSES AND EXCLUSION OF NURSE INTERN POSITION FROM INTERNSHIP ADVERT OF THE BAYELSA STATE HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT BOARD

Nightingales’ greetings from members of this association.

       2.      The report we received from the Bayelsa State chapter of our association on the above subject matter, prompted our writing to abreast you with extant issues on internship and proper placement of graduate nurses [.i.e. Registered Nurses (RN) with Bachelor of Nursing Science (BNSc) degree].  

        3. Kindly note that on September 8, 2016, the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF) released a circular, Ref No. HCSF/EIR/CND/S.100/ST/97, which prescribed compulsory internship training for fresh graduates of BNSc degree and their extant placement post-NYSC (National Youth Service Corps) as Grade Level 09 (.i.e CONHESS 08). The release of the referred circular was sequel to National Council on Establishment (NCE) meeting held on July 22, 2016 in Minna, Niger State, which Bayelsa State Government was ably part and parcel of.

     4. Following the release of the circular, the placement of graduate nurses in the civil service anywhere in Nigeria became Grade Level 09 post-NYSC (.i.e. CONHESS 08).

    5. This was further evident in the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) Circular, Ref No.C6093/T/13 dated 19^th June 2017, which succinctly spelt out that the extant placement of graduates of BNSc degree post-NYSC as CONHESS 08 effective from 8^th September 2016 (being the date of release of the circular by the office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation) and that Nursing officers who were already in the service before this date, and are still below this new base shall be upgraded to the new base (.i.e. CONHESS 08) effective from the said date of release of the circular (.i.e. 8^th September 2016).

   6. Aside the FMOH circulars, another circular from the office of the HCSF, Ref No.B63279/S.7/II/T/273dated 24^th April 2002 clearly stated that when there is an adjustment of salary grade level as a result of Enhanced Entry Point (Base Grade) to a cadre in the Civil Service, the adjustment shall affect officers within the cadre whose positions fall below the new entry point.

   7.  Consequent from the above-referenced circulars, all nursing officers who were below CONHESS 08 prior to the date of release of the circular became automatically promoted to CONHESS 08 effective from the date of release of the circular (.i.e. 8^th September 2016).  

    8. Furthermore, to ensure speedy implementation of the internship and new entry point for the graduate nurses by all institutions that employ nurses, the FMOH vide another circular Ref No. C.6093/T/16 dated February 20, 2018, and also vide a reminder, Ref No.C2920/5.3/C.2/1/155 dated 5^th February 2019, directed all heads of healthcare institutions to expressly implement the internship and proper placement of graduate nurses in their various institutions. This resulted in massive implementation of the circular in many institutions across the federation.

    9.  We were surprised to get the report that the progressive Bayelsa of all States is yet to implement these circulars in its Hospital Management Board (HMB).

    10. We therefore most respectfully demand that you kindly implement the internship and proper placement of graduates of BNSc degree in the Bayelsa State Hospital Management Board without further delay in the spirit of the extant laws as espoused by the referenced circulars.

     11. Attached herewith are the referenced circulars and documents labeled in the following order:

Annexure A: Complaint from the Bayelsa State chapter of our association

Annexure B: Circular from the office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation   (HCSF), Ref No. HCSF/EIR/CND/S.100/ST/97 dated September 8, 2016.

Annexure C: Circular from the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH), Ref No.C6093/T/13 dated 19^th June 2017.

Annexure D: Circular from the office of the HCSF, Ref No.B63279/S.7/II/T/273dated 24^th April 2002.

Annexure E: Circular from the FMOH, Ref No. C.6093/T/16 dated February 20, 2018.

Annexure F: Circular from the FMOH, Ref No.C2920/5.3/C.2/1/155 dated 5^th February 2019

Signed:

       

 CHIEF (HON.) S.E.O. EGWUENU                        NURSE P.O. ETENG

  National President                                                      Ag.National Secretary

CC: 

Head of Service, Bayelsa State,

Office of the Head of Service

State Government Secretariat, Yenagoa,

Bayelsa State.